A FORMER Oxford Brookes University student is accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the dancefloor of a Cowley Road nightclub.

Fred Edwards, 21, is charged with one count of sexual assault of the woman while they were dancing together at the O2 Academy in the early hours of November 3.

Edwards, of Cowley Road, East Oxford, has pleaded not guilty to the charge and his trial began at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Nigel Daly, prosecuting, told the jury the young woman, who is not from Oxford, had been visiting a friend when they went to the O2's student sports night.

Mr Daly said Edwards, at the O2 with fellow university rugby club members, started dancing with the woman and kissed her.

He added: "He then picked her up by putting his arms around her waist so she was completely off the ground and began to touch her bottom but she pushed him away."

It was then, Mr Daly said, that he sexually assaulted her before she fled to the toilets where she was found by her friend 'sick, pale and shaking'.

The incident was reported to a doorman and police called, with Edwards eventually traced via Facebook and interviewed on December 20.

He told officers he did not remember being at the O2 as he had been drinking but he was a regular at the student event and identified himself in CCTV footage from the club.

The student told officers even though he had no recollection of the night he 'would not have done such a thing'.

The trial continues.